On July 12, 1989, the EPA issued a final rule under Section 6 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) banning most asbestos-containing products in the United States. In 1991, the rule was vacated and remanded by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. As a result, most of the original ban on manufacturing, importing, processing or distribution in commerce for most of the asbestos-containing product categories originally covered in the 1989 final rule was overturned. Only the bans on corrugated paper, roll board, commercial paper, specialty paper, and flooring felt, and any new uses of asbestos remained banned under the 1989 rule. Although most asbestos-containing products can still legally be manufactured, imported, processed, and distributed in the U.S., according to the U.S. Geological Survey, the production and use of asbestos has declined significantly.

We don't recommend removing asbestos in your home as a do-it-yourself project. However, EPA allows a homeowner that occupies their building to legally remove suspected asbestos-containing materials within their home. Most homeowners of less than 4 – unit residential buildings are exempt from EPA regulations on asbestos. Contractors that conduct building repairs must determine if asbestos is present before conducting their work. If you remove asbestos-containing material, it should be properly disposed of at a licensed and asbestos-approved landfill for disposal. Asbestos-containing materials should be tightly enclosed in double-bagged heavy-duty commercial bags.

No, business owners cannot remove suspected asbestos within multi-unit residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Only homeowners in a single-family home who also are occupants can fulfill the residential exemption set forth for residential properties by the EPA.

Asbestos is more common in homes than people typically believe. Most people believe that asbestos was banned years ago, which it was but for only a very short period of time. Asbestos is still commonly found in recently built homes and commercial buildings as asbestos-containing products included drywall joint compound (aka mud) and caulking. These products were many times manufactured in Mexico and Canada and only within the past few years banned their production. The US is one of only a few countries that has not place a ban completely on the import and manufacturing of asbestos-containing building materials.

Yes, you could drop off a sample(s) of building material for asbestos analysis by placing your name, street address, phone number, and email address on a piece of paper inside a zip lock® baggie that also contains zip lock ® bags of suspected asbestos-containing building materials with the location identified on the outside of the zip lock ® bag. The sample does not need to be larger than a half dollar in size We will email you the results within two to three business days after you have dropped off your sample(s). Call ahead with questions and to make drop off arrangements.

Yes, ERAtech does offer Asbestos Class II flooring removal training classes regularly. The eight-hour class can be held at our location or if there are enough participants (over a minimum of 6) we can conduct this training at your facility. The course allows restoration, remodeling, and flooring contractors to remove asbestos flooring and associated mastic (adhesive) in their residential and business client’s buildings.

The EPA requires a minimum number of samples per building material type. The amount of samples that need to be collected depends on which of the three types of building material is being sampled (Surfacing – minimum of 2, thermal system insulation – minimum of 3, and miscellaneous – minimum of 2). At a minimum EPA requires 2 representative samples of a homogeneous (same material installed at the same time, same color, same texture, etc.)

If you have vermiculite insulation in your home, you should assume this material may be contaminated with asbestos and be aware of steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from asbestos exposure. The EPA recommends that vermiculite insulation be left undisturbed. Airborne asbestos fibers present a health risk through inhalation, so the first step is to not disturb the material, which could release fibers into the air. If you disturb the insulation, you may inhale some asbestos fibers. The degree of health risk depends on how much and how often this occurs. If you choose to remove the vermiculite insulation, this work should be done by a trained and accredited asbestos abatement contractor that is separate and independent from the company that assessed the vermiculite insulation to avoid any conflict of interest. If you have vermiculite insulation, any tasks requiring workers to disturb the vermiculite (electrical or cable installation, light fixture installations, etc.) should not be permitted.

You can't tell whether a material in your home contains asbestos simply by looking at it. If you suspect a material within your home might contain asbestos (for example floor tile, ceiling tile, or old pipe insulation/wrap) and the material is damaged (fraying or falling apart) or if you are planning on performing a renovation that would disturb the material, the EPA recommends that you have it sampled by a properly trained and Ohio licensed asbestos consultant like ERAtech’s professionals. ERAtech uses only NESHAP approved laboratories to perform the asbestos analysis.

As stated on January 5, 1994, Asbestos Sampling Bulletin clarification, joint compound and wallboard form a “wall system,” and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) therefore recommends the use of a composite analysis for this material. See 59 FR 542; see also 60 FR 65243 (1995). For joint compound (not skim coat), EPA recommends that an accredited analyst take a weighted average of the different wall system components to arrive at the final reportable number.

OSHA DOES NOT recognize composited analysis.

We believe doing both the consulting/testing and remediation/abatement is wrong and bad for our clients. It is a “Conflict of Interest” when a consultant/contractor is in a position to derive personal benefit from their actions or decisions. Too many times we see a business offering both services and getting enriched at the expense of the property owner.